Empire Flat, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Empire Flat, Arizona
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 Empire Flat, Arizona
Location in Arizona
Empire Flat, Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| County | La Paz |
| Founded: | circa 1860 |
| Abandoned: | circa 1905 |
| Elevation | 384 ft (117 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST (no DST)) |
Empire Flat was once a busy place in Arizona where steamboats used to stop. It was located on the east side of the Colorado River, in an area now known as Parker Strip, Arizona. This spot was important because it helped connect mines in the nearby mountains to the river. Today, Empire Flat is considered a ghost town, meaning it's a place that was once active but is now mostly abandoned.
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What Was Empire Flat?
Empire Flat was a special "landing" spot for steamboats. It was about 10 miles up the Colorado River from a place called Parker's Landing. This landing was built to serve the Empire Flat Mines and their mining camp. These mines were in the Buckskin Mountains, which were part of what was then Yuma County, Arizona Territory.
Life at the Landing
An old map from 1866, made by Edward Fairman, shows what Empire Flat was like. The map shows the Empire Flat Mines were about 9.2 miles south of Aubrey City by land. The landing itself was 10 miles away by river.
The map also shows that Empire Flat landing had a camp, a corral for animals, and an "Ore House" where valuable rocks were stored. There was even a camp for Mexican packers, who helped transport goods. The mine area also had furnaces to process ore, a blacksmith shop, and an engine house.
Later, in the 1870s, the landing grew. It had a "five-stamp mill," which was a machine used to crush gold-bearing copper ore. This mill was in a tall, two-story building. There was also a mess hall for eating and small huts for the workers who operated the mill.
Why Did It Become a Ghost Town?
People worked in the mines in this area from the early 1860s for many years. However, the last steamboats stopped coming to Empire Flat in 1905. This happened because the Arizona and California Railway was built. The railway put a bridge over the Colorado River near Parker, Arizona. With the train, it became easier and faster to move goods and people, so steamboats were no longer needed as much.
Where Is Empire Flat Today?
The exact spot where the Empire Flat landing used to be is now part of the Parker Strip, Arizona area. Modern resorts and buildings cover the old site. So, if you visit today, you won't see the old steamboat landing or mining camp.
